INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever is celebrating the primary sport again from the Olympic break with a house victory over the Phoenix Mercury.

The sold-out crowd introduced followers from all around the nation collectively. Followers from Iowa, South Carolina, Vermont, Texas, and even so far as Canada stuffed the stands Friday night time to rejoice the return of the most-watched crew within the WNBA after a month-long hiatus.

The Fever ended up profitable Friday night time’s sport by a scoreline of 98 to 89.

“It’s our first time right here,” mentioned Sara and Greenlee Quillin, followers from Iowa. “We’re excited to come back from Iowa to assist girls’s sports activities, basketball, the entire enterprise and assist my daughter to be an inspiration and have objectives.”

“It’s every thing,” mentioned Brett Lake from South Carolina. “Shoutout to all of the lady dads on the market! I like it to have the ability to come right here and to offer my daughter the journey of a lifetime for us.”

“My spouse talked me into getting season tickets final yr and I’m so glad she did as a result of we benefit from the heck out of this,” mentioned Rick Stevens from Indianapolis. “It’s simply wonderful.”

“It’s an unbelievable feeling being right here in particular person,” mentioned Becky and Tom Popelka, followers from Iowa.

“We’re able to scream our lips off,” mentioned Shannon and Shelley Wolfe, followers from Texas. “I’m able to lose my voice.”

Followers usually are not solely celebrating the primary house sport since mid-July however a really profitable first half of the season.

“I used to be a basketball participant rising up so it’s so cool to see girls’s basketball develop as a lot because it has,” Wolfe mentioned.

“It’s a lot enjoyable,” mentioned Abigail Loomis from Vermont. “I’d suggest it 100%.”

The Indiana Fever not solely holds the attendance file at each house and away video games this yr however the merchandise gross sales are by way of the roof with jersey gross sales seeing a 1200% improve and the highest vendor is #22.

“It’s fairly thrilling as a result of I like Caitlin Clark and he or she is fairly thrilling to look at,” mentioned Presley Kibler, a Fever fan from New York.

“She is an inspiration as a result of all of her strikes and methods she teaches me and the three-pointers she makes,” Greenlee Quillin mentioned.

“I additionally play sports activities so it is vitally inspiring,” mentioned Quinn Kennedy, a Fever fan from Canada.

“She is simply superior and I wish to be like her sooner or later,” mentioned Brielle Lake, a Fever fan from South Carolina.

“She’s one among my favourite gamers,” Loomis mentioned. “One thing about her and her aggression, the best way she performs, and doesn’t take any hate, I like her.”

The hope is that this record-breaking development of ticket gross sales, merchandise, and total viewership will solely proceed within the second half of the season.

“It’s throughout,” Popelka mentioned. “It’s like a Fever. It’s catching in all places.”

“It’s so lengthy overdue for the women to get the popularity that they’re lastly, lastly getting,” mentioned Joanie Stevens from Indianapolis.

And followers can proceed making recollections for what has already develop into a very unforgettable season.

“I feel it’s nice,” Quillin mentioned. “It’s going to be large going ahead and I’m glad to be part of it.”

“Carry your daughters and sons to look at these girls play,” Stevens mentioned.

The Indiana Fever will likely be again in motion this Sunday after they tackle the Seattle Storm.